Longtime school employees honored

There is an exclusive group of people in the Mat-Su Borough School District. It is made up of custodians, teachers, receptionists, principals and administrators. Both men and women are members, and they come from schools all across the Valley. What they all have in common is longtime commitment to their jobs.

For the first time in years, for as long as many people can remember, the Mat-Su Borough School District is recognizing employees for years of service. At a dinner last Tuesday at Evangelo's Restaurant, more than 100 teachers, principals and classified employees were honored for their 20-, 25- and 30-year careers with the district.

In addition to a free dinner and a great deal of applause, each employee received a pin, blue for 20 years, silver for 25 and gold for 30, that read, "In appreciation -- the Mat-Su Borough School District."

School board members Mike Chmielewski, Dan Contini and Linda Menard helped hand out the pins and shake hands, and as each employee approached the podium district officials read quotes from colleagues describing his or her contributions over the years.

District public information specialist Kim Floyd, who coordinated last week's event, said it wasn't easy to find a way to pay proper tribute to these dedicated employees.

"I really struggled with it … how do you properly thank someone who has given so many years of service," she said. "You really can't, but I hope this was some small measure of our gratitude for the work they've done."

Floyd said she has only received positive comments from people about the recognition dinner. Several employees described it as one of the nicest gestures the district has ever made.

One teacher remembered receiving a pin at five years and as she was finishing her ninth year, she was looking forward to receiving her 10-year pin. But the district did away with the program then.

"She's been in the district 26 years now," Floyd said. And during that time, the teacher never received any notice for her long service.

Floyd said the district hopes to change this permanently by making the recognition dinner an annual event.

"We need to spend more time … working to let people know how much we appreciate what they do," Floyd said. "They have some of the toughest jobs there are."